
Order Processing Virtual Assistant
Every order processed, every shipping status current, every return handled to your policy, by one dedicated person who works for your store alone. Here is what that covers and what it costs.
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What an order processing virtual assistant handles each day
Order processing
Reviews new orders, checks for fraud flags, address problems and stock conflicts, and moves each order to fulfilment or to you, so nothing sits unprocessed past the window you set.
Fulfilment tracking and shipping updates
Tracks every order through your warehouse or 3PL, updates shipping statuses and tracking on the store and the marketplaces, and chases the couriers when a parcel stalls.
Cancellations, edits and address changes
Handles the requests that arrive after checkout: cancellations, quantity changes, address corrections and delivery instructions, applied before the order ships rather than after.
Returns & exchanges
Issues return authorisations, tracks the returned goods, books exchanges and restocks or writes off items to your rules, and identifies the patterns that reduce return rates.
Refunds and goodwill within your policy
Processes refunds and partial refunds, applies the goodwill gestures you allow and brings anything outside policy to you with the context written up.
Order messages and reviews
Answers the customer messages an order generates, where is it, can I change it, it arrived damaged, in your voice and on your marketplaces' standards, protecting your seller rating.
A dedicated order processing VA compared with a 3PL's support desk or a freelancer
A 3PL moves boxes well and handles exceptions badly, because exceptions need your policy, your customer history and your judgement. A freelancer clears a backlog and leaves; the next backlog needs a new briefing.
A dedicated order processing VA is one person in your order flow every working day, and you see only the exceptions that need your decision.
Dedicated order VA
- How it works
- One person in your order flow every working day
- Exceptions
- Handled when they arise; you see only those needing you
- What you are left with
- Only the exceptions that need your decision
- Ant Assist fit
- Knows your couriers, returns and where policy stops
3PL support desk
- How it works
- Moves boxes well, handles exceptions badly
- Exceptions
- Need your policy and history, which the desk lacks
- What you are left with
- Founder still fields cancellations, damaged parcels, refunds
- Ant Assist fit
- Not provided by Ant Assist
Freelancer
- How it works
- Clears a backlog and leaves
- Exceptions
- The next backlog needs a new briefing
- What you are left with
- Mistakes in between are found by customers
- Ant Assist fit
- Not provided by Ant Assist
Explore more VA types
Not the right fit? Compare other VA types
Who an order processing VA is for
- Founders processing their own orders One VA takes orders, updates and returns off your plate.
- Brands using a 3PL Your VA handles cancellations, address changes and damaged-parcel messages.
- Marketplace sellers with a rating to protect Responses and returns handled to Amazon and eBay standards.
- Stores with seasonal peaks Scale hours up for the peak, and the January returns handled.

What an order processing VA costs
With Ant Assist the entry rate is £5 per hour for the first 6 months on the Entry tier, 3 months on Mid, 1 month on Expert.
| What you get | RecommendedAnt Assist | UK in-house hire | UK agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | Standard price £1,040 a month, introductory price £800 for the first 6 months | ~£3,100 | approx. £3,500 to £4,500 |
| Who manages the work | IncludedOur UK team supervises | Not includedYou do | PartlyThe agency |
| Recruitment and onboarding | IncludedIncluded | Not includedYou recruit and train | IncludedThe agency matches |
| Employer NI and pension | IncludedNone to pay | Not includedYou pay both | PartlyBuilt into the rate |
| Office and equipment | IncludedIncluded | Not includedYou provide | PartlyVaries by agency |
| Holiday and sick cover | IncludedCover provided | Not includedYou find cover | PartlyVaries by agency |
| Replacement if it is not right | IncludedReplaced, no restart cost | Not includedRe-hire from scratch | PartlyVaries by agency |
| Contract | Included12-month term, 3-month probation | Not includedEmployment contract | PartlyVaries by agency |
Entry offer: standard rate £6.50, introductory offer £5/hour for your first 6 months.
UK agency figures are an approximate range around the £25 per hour agency benchmark our calculator uses.
What the £5/hour entry rate includes
- Dedicated VA, never shared
- UK-hour aligned support
- Management and supervision included
- Recruitment and onboarding included
- Office infrastructure included
- VA replacement available
- No NI, pension, or holiday costs
- 3-month probation, no penalty to leave
These are typical estimates. Get your exact numbers in the full calculator. Or read how much a virtual assistant costs in the UK.
Calculate your exact savingsHow to hire an order processing VA
Why a managed order processing VA beats a 3PL's support desk or a freelancer
Common questions about hiring an order processing virtual assistant
Didn't find your answer? Browse more common questions in the Help Center.
Every order handled. Every return, too.
One dedicated order processing VA, from £5 per hour. Book a free 15-minute call.
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